Adobe Creek Lodge, a historic property in Los Altos Hills, CA, which once encompassed 100 acres and could hold up to 8,000 guests, is now on the market for $25 million. Current owner Robert Wayman, the former CFO and executive vice president of Hewlett-Packard, bought it in 1994 and restored it to its current, pristine state. “It’s impeccably maintained, super-rare, and truly one-of-a-kind,” says listing agent Ryan Gowdy. “You could not duplicate this today.” The storied estate morphed as it changed hands, even converting into a recreational club, something no longer possible in the residential area. According to a history compiled by the Los Altos Hills Historical Society, the home was built in 1934 for Milton Haas, a San Francisco businessman who wanted a country retreat. He snapped up 35 acres of land in what is now Los Altos Hills, and commissioned an 11,000-square-foot Tudor-style manor that set him back $250,000, a large sum during the Depression. Adobe Creek Lodge Guesthouse Formal dining room Living room Haas kept it for just a decade, before selling it to Henry Waxman, who owned bakeries in San Francisco. Waxman expanded the property with 28 more acres and developed it as a commercial club, with two swimming pools, barbecue facilities, parking for 2,000 cars, an 80-foot bar, and two dance pavilions, according to the Los Altos Hills Historical Society. After a 10-year-run, in 1955, Waxman also sold, this time to a San Francisco restaurateur, Frank Martinelli, who continued to use the facility as a club. Los Altos Hills was incorporated in the 1950s as a residential area, but Adobe Creek Lodge was allowed to continue as a day resort for 20 more years. Marin County hoteliers David Bellucci and his brother Alfred picked up the lodge for $1 million in 1961, with the intent of of running it as a daytime destination. Additional structures were built on the property, including the Tally-Ho restaurant, and stables, carnival equipment, and trailer housing for staff. It was a popular place: In 1970, as many as 8,000 people were reportedly turning out regularly on the weekends. In 1976, Bellucci failed to change the zoning restriction on the club. With no business to run and no summertime crowds, the property fell into disrepair. The property was eventually turned over to Resolution Trust Company. In 1994, Wayman bought the place and spent years and millions of dollars to convert it back to its original, residential state. He hired RJ Dailey Construction, Moyer Associates Architects, and Thomas Klope Associates landscape architects to restore, renovate, and expand the Tudor style, while preserving or reproducing original details. The main residence now includes three beds, three full baths, and two half-baths, with 8,572 square feet. Original features with modern updates include a living room, formal dining room, family room, home theater, study, and chef’s kitchen. The spread contains a main house, multiple terraces, a pool, tennis courts, formal gardens and natural beauty on about 49 acres, with much of the other land sold off and developed before 1994. The former Tally-Ho restaurant has been converted into a 3,000-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath guesthouse with kitchen and laundry, with an added second floor. (The dance floor remains.) While its days as a destination are long gone, Wayman has opened the place to charity fundraisers and events. There’s still parking for 200 and the home can host “in excess of 500” guests, Gowdy estimates. And while a hotel or event site is out of the question, the land comes with six flat acres and five separate parcels, which would allow the next owner to create a family compound with three more homes, if desired. The spot is woodsy, serene, and private, but only three miles to downtown Los Altos, and two miles to the highway. “You feel you’re in a remote location, because it’s peaceful and quiet but you’re really close to anything,” Gowdy says. The post Destination Estate With a Storied History, $25M Adobe Creek Lodge Up for Sale appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/adobe-creek-lodge-los-altos/
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This little beauty of a home in Harrison, AR, was designed by E.R. Herndon, a protégé of E. Fay Jones, a winner of the American Institute of Architects gold medal. Jones studied with Frank Lloyd Wright as a Taliesin Fellow. Although his work was influenced by Wright’s vision of organic architecture, Jones developed his own style unique to the Ozarks, where he made his home. Herndon, in turn, was influenced by Jones’s vision, and in 1977, built this three-bedroom, three-bathroom house. “Herndon was working for Fay Jones when he designed this house,” explains listing agent Melissa Collins. “Though the design was Herndon’s, anyone familiar with Jones’s style can walk through this house and see his influence.” The walls of the home are covered in tongue-and-groove imported California redwood, while the floors are laid with native Arkansas stone. “The flooring is absolutely gorgeous,” says Collins. The 3,792-square foot home has multiple fireplaces, a wet bar, recreation room with Tiffany pool table, wine fridge, distinctive wood paneling on the ceilings, wood floors, dual sinks, a covered patio, and sits on 1.55 acres of land. Stained glass, mosaic stone, and redwood give the home a warm, organic quality that shows Wright’s influence, and the original details have been immaculately preserved. Custom, built-in furniture and light fixtures add to the singular feeling of the home. “They actually built furniture, chandeliers, and other custom pieces into the home,” said Collins. It’s a level of workmanship that would be impossible to find in a similarly priced contemporary build. The custom-built closets speak to the careful detail of the architect’s vision, says Collins. “One of the features that makes a home like this so unique is that the closets are built into the home as cabinets,” she explains. “Unlike the closet shell you’d find in a newly constructed home today, these closets are cedar-lined, with built-in drawers and special features.” Crafting that level of detail into a residence created a bond between the architect and his building. In fact, when Herndon heard the home was on the market, he made plans to come and visit the property. Want to live in a beautiful home that’s less than six degrees from Frank Lloyd Wright? All this could be yours for just $325,000. The post Affordable Redwood and Stone Stunner With Frank Lloyd Wright Pedigree on Sale in AK appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/redwood-stone-stunner-frank-lloyd-wright/ Martha Stewart is a household name as the expert on, well, all things household—how to cook, craft, decorate, and entertain like the best. Sure, she’s had her ups and downs (and prison time), but if you still aspire to possess one sliver of her domestic prowess, you can now buy it for as little as 25 bucks! On May 5 and 6, Kaminski Auctions of Beverly, MA, is selling off a collection of studio props and furniture from “The Martha Stewart Show,” and if you can’t get to the auction gallery in person, you can bid online or by phone at KaminskiAuctions.com. That’s right: You can set Martha Stewart’s table in your own home, with Martha Stewart’s dishes and tableware. You can cook in her pots and arrange flowers in her vases, and the prices actually seem quite reasonable. Minimum bids start at only $25—that’s for entire collections of things, from placemats to antique clocks—and even if the bidding drives those prices up, most final tallies are anticipated to stay well under the $500 range. In other words, getting a piece of Stewart’s empire comes surprisingly cheap! And you’ll feel even better about buying this stuff knowing that a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Martha Stewart Center for Living (MSCL) at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, which serves to promote and facilitate access to health care resources for older adults and to enhance the public perception of aging. In other words, channeling your inner Martha Stewart will be a win-win all around—not just for your home decor. Here are a few choice items to consider bidding on that could elevate your domestic A-game to a whole new level. Lot #29 Butcher block tableMinimum bid: $150 Estimated sales price: $300-$500 OMG, Stewart actually chopped carrots on this thing! It comes pre-seasoned by the master herself. It’s 34″ tall by 23.5″ wide—the perfect size for just about any kitchen. Lot #34 Group of eight ice bucketsMinimum bid: $25 Estimated sales price: $50-$100 No self-respecting bar cart is complete without one … and eight is even better! Since you’re bidding on the group as a whole, you should know that they can double as flower bowls, fruit bowls, you name it. Lot #56 Collection of throw pillow coversMinimum bid: $25 Estimated sales price: $50-$100 Whoa! There are 38 throw pillow covers in this lot—that’s plenty for every room in the house! It looks like they’re mostly in shades of blue and green, and many of them have fancy embroidery. Lot #115 Group of clocks and hourglassesMinimum bid: $50 Estimated sales price: $100-$200 Keep time with Martha Stewart by displaying these 18 clocks (some vintage) and two hourglasses. It’s a ready-made collection. Lot #189 Group of vintage colored glass bottlesMinimum bid: $35 Estimated sales price: $75-$100 Bathroom, bedroom, living room or kitchen, you know you have a place or three for these 15 vintage glass colored bottles. Filled with flowers or spice, they’ll also make great gifts. Lot #201 Table linensMinimum bid: $100 Estimated sales price: $200-$300 This collection includes designer table linens in reds, pinks, purples, and oranges that are interchangeable, so you don’t get that “matchy-matchy” look. Pieces include tablecloths, napkins, runners, and placemats in assorted materials and patterns. Lot #225 Printing blocksMinimum bid: $35 Estimated sales price: $75-$100 Think of the accent pieces you could make with the addition of random letters in various colors and typefaces! This includes an assortment of printing blocks and wooden letters in three small tubs. Lot #354 Binoculars, cameras, and magnifying glassesMinimum bid: $25 Estimated sales price: $50-$75 The perfect accessories for a library, study, den, or office, these vintage binoculars, cameras, and magnifying glasses will certainly get some conversations started. How much fun to be able to say, “This? I got it from Martha Stewart!” Lot #371 Set of six vintage painted metal chairsMinimum bid: $50 Estimated sales price: $100-$200 Here’s your chance to complete that cafe table look with just a few clicks. They’re painted in different colors for a cheery, eclectic effect. They’re 31.5 inches high and the seats are 15 inches deep. Lot #388 Painted Chinese-style sideboardMinimum bid: $50 Estimated sales price: $100-$200 Here’s something you’re not likely to find anywhere else—especially at this price! This Chinese-style sideboard is painted a bold blue, and measures 35¼ inches high, 62¾ inches wide, and 15¾ inches deep. The post Martha Stewart Chopped Here! Buy Her Pots, Placemats, and More for $25 on Up appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/martha-stewart-auction-cheap/ Fresh off inking a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, well-traveled MLB slugger Mark Reynolds has listed his gorgeous estate in Waxhaw, NC, for $2.1 million. It’s a property with both style and substance to spare. Built in 2015, the home is a stately, brick traditional Southern stunner, but on the inside, the home is a surprisingly soft, romantic, bright, welcoming space that puts modern comforts at your fingertips. The entire six-bedroom, five full bathrooms, and two half-bathrooms, 5,625-square-foot home is controlled from a smartphone, including window treatments, lighting, heating, surround sound, and more. The home is tailor-made for a family, with its spacious living room and kitchen, along with an enviable double-stack laundry room. There’s also a media room, game room, and huge backyard, with outdoor kitchen, grill, pool, and spa. The house—which even includes a separate apartment above the garage with its own bathroom and kitchenette—sits on nearly an acre in Waxhaw, known for its scenic, wooded charm. Of course there’s a refined side to this luxurious home, most evident in the dreamy master bedroom and incredible bathroom with soaking tub. Reynolds, along with his wife, Kathleen, and two sons don’t appear to have spent much time at the home lately. Reynolds gave an interview in February saying he was waiting at home in Virginia to get picked up by a team, enjoying the time with his family. Reynolds was drafted in 2004 by the Diamondbacks, and over his career, he’s played with the Orioles, Indians, Yankees, Brewers, Cardinals, and most recently with the Rockies. He’s hit 281 home runs over the course of his 11-year big-league career. Now Reynolds has a new team, and a lucky buyer will have a big-league estate to call home. The post Slugger Mark Reynolds Selling Carolina Mansion With Big-League Style for $2.1M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/mark-reynolds-north-carolina-mansion/ Last fall, Kit Kester, 32, and his wife decided it was time to make the giant leap into first-time homeownership. But they didn’t consider relocating to job-packed San Francisco, breakfast-taco-loving Austin, TX, mustache-obsessed Williamsburg, Brooklyn, or any of the other infamous millennial hotspots across the United States. Instead they centered their search on their hometown of Lincoln, NE. By October, they had purchased a three-bedroom, split-level home in the suburban neighborhood of Highlands for $180,000. “We got tired of paying rent and throwing money away,” says the maintenance supervisor and father of a young child. “And we really liked the idea of having a home for my daughter to grow up in.” Millennials bought 36% of homes last year, the highest share of any generational group, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Of that 36%, 65% went to first-time home buyers. But this vast army of buyers faces some unique challenges in their transition from renters to owners, including crushing debt loads and one of the tightest and most competitive housing markets in history. They may be buying homes in big numbers, but they can’t afford to do so in the nation’s largest, most expensive cities. Instead, many younger buyers are opting for more affordable—and unexpected—parts of the country. But where? The data team at realtor.com decided to find out where younger Americans make up the largest percentage of purchasers, by looking at who is getting mortgages and where they’re getting ’em. What we found flies in the face of conventional wisdom. “At the end of the day, it comes down to what they can afford,” says Roger Ma, a real estate agent and owner of Life Laid Out, a New York-based company that helps people reach their financial goals. “They might have started their careers in very expensive metros areas like [Washington] DC or San Francisco. But as they age, they often want to settle down and look for a home in a reasonably priced location.” We used Pew Research Center’s definition of millennials: those born between 1981 and 1996—who are now anywhere from 22 to the ripe old age of 36.Then we calculated the share of buyers within that age group who bought homes over the past 12 months in the 200 largest housing markets. Now let’s take a tour of the new millennial meccas! 1. Appleton, WIMedian home list price: $150,000 Millennials, it’s said, are a generation about instant gratification. They want everything, and they want it now. Broad generalizations, sure, but in Appleton, young home buyers really are focused on having it all. “They want an updated home, something with a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and a large yard,” says Carolyn Stark, a real estate agent at Keller Williams Fox Cities. “You can see the look on their faces when they see places that have been renovated, and have new flooring and carpet—that makes them happy.” Suburban communities in Appleton with lots of move-in-ready houses, for example in Kimberly, WI, are in high demand. Young buyers with families love the public school system, the short drive from the city center—and the fact that the median home price is an affordable $145,000, according to realtor.com. There are also plenty of things for the younger crowd to do. You catch them flocking to the Appleton Beer Factory, a brewpub downtown that serves up burgers, fries, and, of course, beer, or boating or jet-skiing on nearby Lake Winnebago. And the locals aren’t shy around their alcohol. In 2016, 24/7 Wall Street named Appleton the Drunkest City in America—a title that doesn’t seem to bother this crowd much. 2. Des Moines, IAMedian home list price: $294,000 Renting in Des Moines isn’t what it use to be—it’s a whole lot more expensive. The median monthly rent price here is now $996, up 6.8% from a year ago, according to the latest U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development numbers. And so a lot of these buyers have wised up and realized that rent is often higher than a mortgage. “The cost of a lease keeps going up,” says Bryan Curtis, a broker at Attain RE in Des Moines. “People are looking at the grand scheme of things when it comes to their finances, and see [buying a home as] one of the best investments.” Now, Des Moines isn’t exactly cheap. The median home price is a bit higher than the national median of $279,900, according to realtor.com data. But many first-time buyers are taking advantage of federally backed mortgage loans that don’t require the 20% down payment, Curtis says. They can put down as little as 3% if they qualify for the right loans. That’s not to say that many buyers can’t afford larger down payments. There are plenty of good jobs in the area, including those at Meredith Corp., which, after its purchase of Time, Inc., is now America’s largest magazine publisher. A gig at Progressive Farmer, perhaps? “It’s still affordable to own a home in Iowa. That is what’s driving people here,” Curtis says. 3. Utica, NYMedian home list price: $139,500 For much of the 20th century, Utica was known as the Sin City of the East. The city’s mob oversaw a slew of illegal activities in the area. But the only mob you’ll find in Utica now is the huge number of younger buyers chasing the newest listings in this city about four and a half hours north of New York City. These days, millennials might know Utica best as the home of one of the worst branches of Dunder Mifflin, the fictional paper company featured on “The Office.” Of the places we ranked, Utica has by far the lowest home price. Around the city’s median price point, you’ll find lots of older, single-family homes in the upstate city’s downtown. Those willing to drop a bit more cash can get a much swankier home. Take this brick, two-story, four-bedroom home of 2,400 square feet, priced at $297,000. The home has a koi pond and a winding rock pathway that leads right up to the front door. 4. Provo, UTMedian home list price: $376,700 Most of the places on our list are all about reasonably priced housing. The exception is Provo, where home prices are almost $100,000 more than the national median. But high prices aren’t locking younger buyers out of the market here, because wages are also good. The city is home to Brigham Young University, Ancestry.com, and plenty of start-ups where computer coders can earn a fine living. That earned the city a spot on our our ranking of top metros for the middle class. Provo homes cost a bit less than those in nearby Salt Lake City, at a median nearly $394,000. The larger city, about 45 minutes north, was ranked as one of the toughest housing markets for millennials by realtor.com. Many first-time buyers are moving to more family-friendly, suburban communities like Cedar Hills, around 25 minutes from downtown Provo, where they can snag larger homes. Just look at this3,400 square-foot, five-bedroom Rambler-style home, priced at $479,000. And all the 1990s kids who grew up watching “Jurassic Park” over and over are sure to dig (get it?) the dino fossils at the Brigham Young University Museum of Paleontology. 5. Duluth, MNMedian home list price: $175,000 Located on the banks of Lake Superior and in the state of 10,000 Lakes, Duluth is perfect for millennials who want to be far away from city life. The homes younger buyers are gravitating to reflect that outdoor lifestyle. There are lots of affordable cabins in the woods, or two-story homes on huge sprawling properties with a lake or two in the backyard. The younger crowd can make good money here. The area is home to one of the Midwest’s largest ports, and it has a strong manufacturing and aviation sector. Lots of big-name engineering firms, like Enbridge and Barr Engineering, have offices here too. 6. Lafayette, LAMedian home list price: $210,100 For many Californians or New Yorkers, owning a home by the time they reach 30 can seem like climbing K2. But by that age in Lafayette, buyers have often bought their second home already, says Justin Netterville, a local real estate agent at Rome Realty. “They want open floor plans, everything updated over [the last] five years, granite countertops, and 1,700 to 2,200 square feet, because they probably have two kids at that point,” he says. And they can get it without breaking the bank. The area has lots of oil field and machine shop jobs that pay entry-level wages of between $30,000 to $50,000—enough in this market to qualify for a first-time mortgage. But buyers had better be quick. One-story ranches in the suburbs for under $200,000 are moving off the market at a rapid pace, Netterville says. Lafayette offers things for families to do as well. To escape the summer heat, residents can stop by the family-fave Borden’s Ice Cream. And it wouldn’t be Louisiana without a few alligator exhibits, like the one on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Full disclosure: In 2016 one these critters escaped and took a stroll around campus. 7. Lancaster, PAMedian home list price: $275,000 Lancaster’s location, about an hour and a half from Philadelphia and just over two hours from NYC and DC, makes it appealing for buyers fleeing those higher-priced cities. However, these transplants are still city folk at heart, so they’re often buying homes downtown. “It feels like half of New York is moving here, because everything there is so darn expensive,” says Darrell Coyle, a local real estate agent at Charles & Associates. “They can’t get a doghouse in New York for the price [of Lancaster homes].” These buyers want townhomes with character built in the early 1900s, Coyle says. “The younger folks want to live in the historic district and walk to the nightlife, great restaurants, and shopping,” Coyle says of the downtown, which is undergoing a resurgence. “The city has rooftop bars with grass yards that overlook the city.” Just outside the city is the country’s oldest Amish settlement. Locals can stop by and snag the best Whoopie Pie of their lives—a treat some claim originated in Lancaster County. Just be mindful of the horses and buggies. 8. Kalamazoo, MIMedian home list price: $245,100 Lovers of Starbucks’ Peppermint Mocha can thank Kalamazoo for those minty, buzzy beverages. In the late 19th century, Albert Todd (aka the Peppermint King of Kalamazoo,) refined peppermint flavoring. But nowadays, the region is leading the pack for something just as sweet: homeownership. Millennials here are snapping up homes left and right. Some of that is due to the fact that the increasing rents have made homeownership ever more appealing. (The median monthly rent climbed to $936, up 4.1% from a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). But that’s not all. Homes here are reasonably priced, and the huge life sciences industry—pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and biomedical firms— put these millennials in a position to afford them. Some of the younger folks also may have larger down payments thanks to the Kalamazoo Promise. It covers up to 100% of tuition and fees for locals to attend public colleges in the state—a great deal for those who don’t want to rack up student loan debt. 9. Lincoln, NEMedian home list price: $313,800 Many young people here are in a good place to transition to homeownership, particularly if they work in the region’s burgeoning tech hub. Lincoln and other Midwest cities, like the Omaha area, have gained the nickname Silicon Prairie, thanks to schools like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln churning out skilled graduates. That’s partly behind the uptick in millennials closing on homes of their own, says Mark Meierdierks, a real estate agent at Nebraska Realty. Many are trying to buy in neighborhoods like Highlands, about a 15-minute commute from downtown. It’s filled with both one-story ranches and two-story split-level homes. Most of the community’s homes were built in the 1970s and ’80s, and if the home has been remodeled, it will catch this age group’s attention, Meierdierks says. “Their parents had a good house, so they want what their parents had, and they can afford to buy it now,” Meierdierks says. “They want to live the American dream.” 10. Evansville, INMedian home list price: $170,800 Evansville is located right on the banks of the Ohio River in southern Indiana. The downtown is full of single-family homes that date back about 100 years, many with views of the river that weaves through the region. There are plenty of new or newly remodeled homes, too, with the open designs that millennial buyers crave. The strong economy has put cash in the hands of younger folks here. The region is the headquarters for companies like Accuride Corporation, a vehicle components supplier, and Berry Global, a Fortune 500 plastic packaging maker. “Evansville is a very affordable city,” says local real estate agent Trae Dauby of Keller Williams Capital Realty. “The bulk of our buyers right now are first-time home buyers, probably between the ages of 22 and 35.” They’re typically local couples scooping up two- and three-bedroom houses on the suburban outskirts of the city, he says. Buyers with some cash left over can head over to the Tropicana Evansville, a 45,000-square-foot casino in downtown. And sports fans can root for one of the local teams, like the Evansville Thunderbolts, a minor league hockey team, or the city’s minor league baseball team. Go, Otters! * Calculated using using Optimal Blue mortgage data. The post Forget SF, Goodbye NYC! You Won’t Believe the New Millennial Magnets for Home Buyers appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/rule-the-roost-millennials-buy-the-most-homes-in-these-metros/ Erstwhile momager Dina Lohan has decided to stop fighting with the bank and let them have the Merrick, NY, home where she raised her ginger-haired movie star daughter Lindsay Lohan. After years of court battles, Lohan failed to respond to a foreclosure lawsuit, and a New York judge has ruled the home will be auctioned off in 90 days. According to The Blast, which had the scoop on the filing, Dina owes just shy of $1.5 million on the Long Island home and failed to show up in court to respond to the suit. Dina purchased the place in 2004 for $650,000, and later took out an $1.3 million loan against the home. In 2014, JPMorgan Chase Bank sued Dina for defaulting on the loan, but she was able to hold off foreclosure and keep the home until the bank went back to court in February 2016 to restart foreclosure proceedings. According to current estimates, the two-story home could be worth as much as $1 million, with just over 4,000 square feet. To give you an idea of the local market, the current median listing price in Merrick is $619,000. According to Page Six, at one point, Lindsay gave Dina $40,000 to keep the house in the family. Apparently, the cash infusion didn’t make a dent in the massive debt. The $40,000 was reportedly the subject of an ugly fight in 2012 between Dina and the star of “The Parent Trap,” which started in the back of a limousine and ended with police being called to the home. In 2013, while LiLo was filming her docuseries for OWN network, Oprah herself drove to the Merrick home to confront the starlet about not showing up to work. “You need to cut the bull–,” Winfrey told Lindsay. “Keep your commitments.” The soon-to-be-auctioned home was also featured in the opening scenes of Dina’s own reality show star turn in “Living Lohan.” With so much Hollywood history, it’s easy to imagine the home will draw a lot of attention at auction. The Lohan family has a knack for that sort of thing. The post Lindsay Lohan’s Childhood Home Headed to Auction After Dina Drops Foreclosure Fight appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/lindsay-lohan-childhood-house-auction/ What’s believed to be the last Lustron Home ever built is on the market. Located in McHenry, IL (just 50 miles northwest of Chicago), the $125,000 home offers a fan of 1950s Americana a chance to own a rare 20th-century artifact. Less than three thousand Lustron homes were ever produced, and this one is believed to be the last that rolled off the production line in 1955, before financial troubles forced the company into bankruptcy. Lustron was launched in 1947 by Chicagoan Carl Strandlund to meet the demand for housing as World War II vets came home craving a quiet, suburban life. The homes were prefabricated in a converted warplane manufacturing plant in Columbus, OH, and came delivered by a Lustron crew who would assemble more than 3,000 parts, including a steel frame and panels made out of steel covered with a porcelain finish, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which estimates that there are only about 1,500 Lustron homes still around today. The result is a home that simultaneously looks like something from a long-forgotten past and a Space Age future. This particular Lustron home was owned by Rose Marie Stratz-Britton, who lived there until her death last January. Now her daughter Laura Herne, along with Suzanne Kotomski, a broker and interior designer, have the home up for sale after giving the house a makeover. “I always thought it was the odd house in the neighborhood,” Herne said. She moved her mother into the home in 2011 because its location and simple layout made it a convenient choice. Lustron homes were marketed as three times stronger than a wood-framed home, and were billed as termite- and lightning- proof. The home has two bedrooms, one bathroom and just over 1,000 square feet, and is situated on a large corner lot with river rights. There’s also a full basement and two-car garage. The home’s windows were replaced in 2015, and floors have been updated with carpet and laminate. According to the Northwest Herald, a Lustron home in 1950 would have cost about $14,000. With today’s $125,000 price tag on the same home, it seems a Lustron remains a good investment for a home buyer with a love of American history and Mid-Century Modern living. The post Last Lustron Ever Built? A Piece of Housing History on the Market for $125K appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/last-lustron-illinois/ Concerned about animal cruelty? You might abstain from eating meat, or at least very much of it, and mink coats are not exactly the thing these days, anyway. But if you’re patting yourself on the back while snuggled under an angora blanket, we’ve got news for you: The furniture and decor in your home can be cruel to animals, too. Welcome to the latest movement in the home decor world: cruelty-free furniture! We’re talking couches made of faux leather, pillows stuffed with down alternatives, and other substitutes for animal skins or materials. A whole host of home furnishing manufacturers are on board too, including Ikea (which offers vegan leather sofas), Crate and Barrel (animal-free upholstery), and Land of Nod (soy-based foam cushions). And—surprise!—the offenses stretch far beyond the obvious culprit of leather (and contrary to popular belief, animal skins are not a byproduct of the meat industry). Rugs, blankets, and furniture stuffing are often made from wool, the product of an industry repeatedly accused of abusing, maiming, and killing sheep. Comforters and pillows are often made with down, feathers that are live-plucked from geese. And if you truly care for all animals regardless of size, you might be horrified to learn that silk lampshades are often made from fibers obtained by boiling silkworms alive inside their cocoons. Why have all that on your conscience when you can easily find perfectly fine furnishings without this black mark in their past? “It’s never been easier to furnish our homes without animals, as more and more companies are offering fabulous vegan options,” says Lisa Lange, PETA’s senior vice president of communications. “Compassionate consumers are snapping up these eco-friendly items because they understand that a home should be a haven, not a showcase of suffering.” Benefits of cruelty-free furnitureThe benefits of cruelty-free furniture go far beyond just knowing that no animals were harmed in the name of furnishing your home.
DiMare also says that transitioning to a cruelty-free home can be easily done whether you’re sticking to a budget or looking for something more high end and luxurious. How to find cruelty-free furnitureWant to learn more? DiMare Design offers an accredited online course called Vegan Design 101 for professional designers and anyone looking for cruelty-free decor. The website also includes links to shop anything and everything you might need to decorate your home humanely. “I want to make it easy for the busy parents and for the designers,” says DiMare, who went completely vegan three years ago, after watching PETA’s investigation into China’s dog leather industry. “I don’t want there to be any excuse for anyone who wants to go vegan in their decor.” If you’re interested in switching out some of your decor to cruelty-free alternatives or you’re ready to completely veganize your home, consider some of these options—all of which get a thumbs up from PETA, DiMare, or other animal rights experts. Vegan leather chairVegan leather has come a long way since the “pleather” you may know from the past. Today’s animal-free leathers are as soft, breathable, and as comfortable as the real thing; this vegan leather chair ($178.99, Amazon.com) also comes in six unique colors to fit any home decor motif. Faux fur throwEnjoy the luxurious feel of fur without all the cruelty, thanks to this faux-fur throw ($44.45, Amazon.com) made from polyester as well as synthetic/imitation versions of fleece and sherpa. Wool and silk-free area rugMany rugs are made from wool and silk, but this colorful, vintage-inspired, shed-resistant rug ($274, Amazon.com) is completely animal-free, making it a statement piece in more ways than one. Tencel bedsheets and linensTencel is an extremely soft fabric that is made from wood cellulose in eucalyptus plants—an excellent alternative to silk and wool. Tencel can be found in sheets, pillows, mattresses, and more, including this duvet cover and sham ($59.99-$79.99, West Elm). Down-alternative pillowIf you’re up for a high-end splurge, consider this cute throw pillow ($240, DiMare Design), which is stuffed with a down alternative. It’s also 100% vegan and actually Certified Cruelty Free. The post Is Your Furniture Cruel to Animals? That Leather Couch Is the Least of It appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/is-your-furniture-cruel-to-animals/ Rising wages, loosening credit standards and demographic shifts are all creating momentum for owning rather than renting. The homeownership rate rose from the prior year for the fifth consecutive quarter in 2018, according to U.S. Census data released Thursday. It held steady at 64.2%, unchanged from the prior quarter and its highest level since 2014. The share of Americans who own a home rose from the prior year, from 63.6% in the first quarter of 2017. The homeownership rate rose last year for the first time in 13 years. That marked a turning point in the recovery, during which home prices have risen sharply and credit standards were initially very tight, blocking many renters from buying homes. The U.S. added 1.3 million owner households over the last year and lost 286,000 renter households, the fourth consecutive quarter in which the number of renter households declined from the same quarter a year earlier. That could pose challenges for apartment landlords, who are bracing this year for one of the largest infusions of new rental supply in three decades. “Landlords should start to take caution,” said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist and founder of Veritas Urbis Economics, a consulting firm. “There’s going to be downward pressure on rents in the near future.” Rising wages and looser credit standards have helped bolster demand for homes in the last year. Fannie Mae made it easier for borrowers to take on more debt in the middle of last year, which coincided with a significant rise in the homeownership rate. Demographics trends also increasingly favor homeownership, as members of the large millennial generation are entering their early to mid 30s, when people typically marry, have children and purchase their first home. Nonetheless, challenges remain. Rising interest rates this year and a tax bill that passed late last year that diminished the tax benefits of homeownership were expected to dampen demand for homes this year. The rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage hit 4.58% this week—the highest level since August 2013, according to data released by Freddie Mac on Thursday. Limited inventory and rising prices are also making it difficult for young people to buy their first homes, as they compete in fierce bidding wars and often lose out to downsizing baby boomers or investors able to pay cash or make large down payments. The homeownership rate for households headed by someone 35 years or younger declined to 35.3% from 36% the prior quarter. Nonetheless, it rose a full percentage point from 34.3% in the first quarter a year ago—the fifth consecutive quarter it has gone up on an annual basis. A lack of homes for sale is also creating challenges for would-be buyers. The homeowner vacancy rate declined to 1.5% from 1.7% a year earlier, according to the Census data. That is down significantly from the recent peak of 2.8% during the housing bust in 2008 and close to the level seen in the early 1990s, according to Tian Liu, chief economist at Genworth Mortgage Insurance. That is likely to push home prices up even further, Mr. Liu said. The post Owning Is the New Renting: Homeownership Trends Upward as U.S. Loses Renter Households appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/owning-new-renting-homeownership-trends-upward-u-s-loses-renter-households/ Freshly traded NFL defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has put his six-bedroom crash pad in Montclair, NJ, on the market for $1.25 million. He bought the house last year in August for $1 million—just a few months before the New York Giants traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Colonial-style, nearly 4,300-square-foot house is located just 10 miles from MetLife Stadium—perfect for Giants home games. It’s located on a quiet, tree-lined residential street, virtually indistinguishable from the other family homes nearby. Inside, it’s bright and updated, with an unpretentious entryway that leads directly to the staircase. There’s updated hardwood flooring on the ground floor, which has a dining room with a corner built-in, and an updated kitchen with an island, stainless steel appliances, gas range, backsplash, and wine fridge. The living room has built-in bookcases, and a TV mounted over the fireplace. There’s a second TV room, with French doors leading outside, and an updated mudroom. Upstairs, the bedrooms are large, but otherwise standard for a family home in New Jersey. There is a walk-in closet in the master bedroom with room for an extensive collection of shoes, and five bathrooms elsewhere. In the backyard, there’s a small stone patio and detached three-car garage. Pierre-Paul, 29, grew up in Florida, and played for the University of South Florida in Tampa—which means his move to the Buccaneers marks a return of sorts. He was the Giants’ first-round pick in 2010 and in 2011, he led the Giants with 16.5 sacks and was named to his first Pro Bowl. The team entered Super Bowl 46 as underdogs against the New England Patriots—ultimately winning 21-17. Pierre-Paul made headlines in 2015 when he blew off part of his right hand in a fireworks accident that sent him to the hospital for two weeks. When he returned to the field, he had seven and a half fingers, and wore a custom glove. In a surprise move last month, the Giants traded Pierre-Paul to the Buccaneers for a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, and a swap of fourth-round picks. The post Former NY Giants Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul Offloading New Jersey Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. via https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/jason-pierre-paul-selling-new-jersey-home/ |
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April 2021
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